Love and Resilience
In the rugged hills of the Golan Heights, two young soldiers found something unexpected: each other. What began as quiet evenings watching Disney movies blossomed into a love story that would endure war, injury, and the relentless pursuit of education.
S. and L., both 27, met during their extended military service six years ago. She was a computer technician leading a small team and he was an officer. Their offices were separated by a muddy stretch of land, connected by a path made with love. “He built a trail from his office to mine,” S. recalled, laughing. “He cleaned it, laid bricks, and even painted it red and green. I thought he was crazy—but in the best way.”
That trail became a symbol of their journey—one of persistence, creativity, and deep affection. Years later, it would be recreated in a hospital hallway, where L. proposed to S. while still in a wheelchair, recovering from a life-altering injury sustained in combat.
Their path took them from the army to the Technion, where S. pursued computer science and her partner studied civil engineering. “Technion was always the dream,” S. said. “It’s the best place in Israel for science and engineering. We were so proud to get in.”
But in October 2023, war erupted. L. was called back to serve as a combat engineering officer in the north. For months, he protected civilians and cleared dangerous areas. Then, during a mission in Lebanon, a tossed grenade left him severely wounded. “It was four hours before the mission was supposed to end,” S. said. “He was trying to rescue fallen soldiers when it happened.”
The road to recovery was long and painful. He spent nearly five months in hospitals and rehabilitation centers. Yet, even in the darkest moments, he remained determined.
“After three years of studying very hard and one year of studying during military service, it just wasn’t the time to give up,” L. said. I could have taken it easy and finished later, but it’s my life, our future, and no one else will do it for me.”
Despite the physical and emotional toll, he returned to his studies. “He finished his degree on time,” S. said with pride. “He studied from the hospital, from home, wherever he could. He never missed a therapy session. He took every opportunity to heal and grow.”
S., too, faced her own challenges. As his primary caregiver, she juggled her studies, work, and his recovery. “There’s no category for someone like me,” she explained. “I wasn’t officially his wife yet, so support was limited. But we found our way.”
The Technion community stepped in with compassion. The dean of students visited the hospital just days after the injury, provided noise-canceling headphones for studying, and funded tutoring sessions. When the couple was ready to return to campus, the University arranged an accessible dorm with an elevator. “They were amazing,” S. said. “They helped us feel like we weren’t alone.”
In November 2024, just a month after the injury, L. proposed. With help from the hospital’s human experience team, he recreated the trail from their army days. “He told me to come play with a dog,” S. smiled. “I walked in, and there it was—the trail, the proposal. It was perfect.”
Three months before their wedding in September 2025, the couple reflected on how far they had come. Both have resumed their studies and are working in their fields—he as a construction engineer, she in computer programming for a major defense company. They dream of a honeymoon trip to South America, a family, and a future built on the foundation they’ve laid together.
“The Technion wasn’t just a university for us. It was a lifeline. It gave us structure, support, and a place to rebuild.”
Their story is one of love, resilience, and the power of community. From the muddy trails of the Golan to the halls of academia, they’ve walked every step together, hand in hand.
